andbarackobamaarebusy swatting up and rehearsing for the first television debate this wednesday. polls show the republican candidate is trailing president obama in the crucial swing states. one of them is of course ohio where early voting gets under way tomorrow. from there our north america editor reports. >> ♪ the boys are back in town ♪ >> the boys are indeed back in town yet again. they call this the buckeye state for the men who are fighting for the white house it's a state to suck up to, whether it's buying the local produce. >> i'm thinking we are going to be eating some corn over the weekend. >> or urging minors to phone a friend. >> want you to find one person to convince to vote for our ticket. >> both candidates are well aware in the last election in the last 44 years ohio has voted for the winning candidate so the politicians woo voters. >> we can create one million new manufacturing jobs in the next four years with the right policies. that's what i'm fighting for. that's why i'm running for a second term as president. that's what's going to be important to ohio. >> hi

,000. >> woodruff:presidentobamaandgovernor mitt romney were slugging it out again today on the campaign trail, both of them in the battleground state of ohio. and both of them mindful of the need to turn out younger voters, who went overwhelmingly for mr. obama in 2008, but who are proving more elusive this year. i traveled to the columbus area this past weekend ahead of the candidates to find out just how elusive. >> fired up! ready to go! >> woodruff: ohio state university students about to head out from an obama campaign office to register voters, yell a familiar refrain. >> fired up! ready to go! >> woodruff: they are a coveted voting block for the president, in this fiercely contested swing state. four years ago, mr. obama won 18- to 29-year-olds nationwide by 66% to 32%. a margin so large, young people were credited with putting him over the top in several key states. >> are you registered to vote? >> woodruff: surveys suggest he's sure to capture the majority of the youngest voter block again. but after four years of watching the president grapple with the realities of governing, they'

is an essential focus.presidentobamaspokeabout the issue earlier today. >> in syria, the future must not belong to a dictator who massacres his people. if there's a cause that cries out for protest in the world today, peaceful protest. in a regime that tortures children and shoots rockets at apartment buildings. we must remain engaged to assure that what began with citizens demanding the rights does not end in the cycle of sectarian violence. together we must stand with those syrians who believe in a different vision, a syria that is united and inclusive where children don't need to fear their own government. and they have a say, sunni's and christians. that's what america stands for, that's what we will stand for sanctions and consequences to those who persecute and support for those who work for the common good. >> rose: they have the resolution to increase the government three times. meanwhile the killing in syria continues. they're up to 30,000 estimated dead. the impasse is just one of the many strains on relations between russia and the united states. iran is another is the d

barackobamaandhill we clinton, and a moment came where-- while not the best friend in the world. and fade, they're working together -- >> for four years and working together as well. >> rose: we have an excellent relationship with president obama, excellent relationship with president clinton. pomititionititions are sometimer the rude, and there have been times in the france when there was a good-- and there have been times where we have been like that. but when chosen as our candidate, we had a concern, a blind conversation. and he "me, dwowpt to work with me. and well, yes, are you our candidate and i will help you and he appointed me as minister of foreign affairs and we are looking like that. >> rose: would you have rather gone minister of finance? >> no, no. possibly 7 the only position i could take. >> rose: where goes europe, the euro zone, the european union, the ideal of idea, the political idea of peerp because awe also attracted a lot of attention because of your own battles having to do with membership in hir. >> not exactly, but six years ago, seven years ago, becau